Pad and holder therefor



June 17, 1941'.

N. H. NELSON PAD AND HOLDER THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1940 3m entor Gttorneg s Patented June 17, 1941 .NHTE

TATES ATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to portable holders for pads of connected sheets or printed forms such as order pads and the like.

One object of the invention is the provision of a comparatively light, readily portable and easily handled holder for pads of the character mentioned, so arranged as to provide a supporting portion for the support of a persons hand while using the pad, the latter being maintained so that its top sheet is approximately flush with the hand-supporting portion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable holder for a pad of connected sheets, having provision for readily fastening the pad to a supporting means which is movable by adjusting mechanism arranged outside the holder so that the upper sheet of the pad may be kept approximately flush with a hand-supporting area at the top of the holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pad having tear-off lined sheets which can be cleanly separated along perforation lines from the stub portion of the pad.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pad of printed forms, having connected stub portions each connected by a perforation line to a tear-off portion, the perforation line of any sheet being very slightly offset with respect to the perforation line of an adjacent sheet and the bottom free edges of the sheets being correspondingly oifset, and a holder for adjustably supporting the pad and having a top wall projecting over the free edges of the sheets 7 and providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad.

therv objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown:

Fig. 1 is a top plan .view of a holder for a pad of connected sheets, and embodying the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one form of pad that may be used in conjunction with the holder;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pad;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, the holder, which is generally designated IO, is adapted for use with a paper pad I l on which orders, sales data or other information may be written by the user. The pad, as shown in Figs. 21 and 3, may comprise a stack of paper sheets or forms similarly lined or printed and adapted for use with one or more sheets of carbon or transfer paper between successive sheets in order that the original writing applied to the upper sheet may be duplicated in one or more duplicate sheets which may be retained as a permanent record.

Sales or order pads of the known conventional character consist of a stack of printed or lined forms or sheets arranged directly above one another and each having a stub portion connected by a perforation line to a tear-ofi portion. The stub portions are connected together and the tear-off portions, after receiving the writing, are adapted to be torn from the pad along the perforation lines, one or more sheets of carbon paper being used so that the original writing is duplicated one or more times. In such pads there is a paperboard bottom sheet below the stack of paper sheets, and usually a stiff cover sheet goes over the top of the pad and is adapted to be folded back to expose the top sheet. In using a pad of such construction the pad may be placed upon a table or counter, the upper sheet of the pad being above that portion of the table on which the hand rests as the pad is used, and this is quite inconvenient, especially where the pad is of considerable thickness.

In accordance with the present invention, the pad is used in conjunction with a holder that can be readily handled, and providing a handsupporting area so that the persons hand, while using the pad, rests on an upper wall of the holder that is approximately flush with the upper sheet of the pad; and as sheets are torn off the upper sheet of the pad and this hand-supporting area are kept at substantially the same level. The holder is also so arranged as to be used with pads that may be made more cheaply than the conventional pads because the stiff covers and the paperboard bottom sheets of the conventional pads are not employed.

The pads used with the holder may have any suitable thickness, size and length, the sheets each having a tear-off portion l2 that is preferably lined and printed and providing areas that may be filled in by handwriting. Each tear-ofi portion is connected to a stub portion l3 by a perforation or score line I4 extending across the sheet. The pad is made from a number of similar loose lined or printed sheets stacked one above the other, the stub end of the sheets being preferably placed against an inclined positioning board I4 so that the plane containing the end edges of the sheets will be inclined at a considerable angle to the vertical as shown in Fig. 3. This places the plane containing all the perforation or score lines at a corresponding angle to the plane or" the sheets, and with the sheets stacked in this position the stub portions are bound together and secured permanently in this position by staples I5 extending vertically through the sheets and the stub portion or" the pad is then punched to provide two locating holes It extending perpendicular to the sheets. The perforation or score line of any sheet is thus very slightly out of vertical alignment with a perforation line of the next lower sheet. The discrepancy produced in the position of the printed lines and the writing reproduced on the copy or duplicate sheet is small enough so as to be unnoticeable. However with this arrangement there is no accumulation of small bits of paper on the stub portions, each tear-off portion being pulled off cleanly since its perforation line is not partly covered by the stub portions above it.

The holder is comparatively small and light and of simple cheap construction. It is provided with side walls I i extending upwardly from a bottom plate I8 of sheet metal or other suitable material such as molded composition. Arranged above the bottom plate I8 is a movable plate I9 which carries the pad II. This plate I9, as shown, is provided with downwardly extending end flanges and 2| which operate along the end wall 22 and a transverse guide Wall 23 respectively. At the sides of the plate I9 are flanges 24 which operate along the side walls I1. Each of the side flanges 25 is pivotally connected to a pair of links 25 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to ears projecting upwardly at opposite sides of a slide member 26 which is slidably carried by a plurality of flat straps 21. These straps are secured at opposite ends thereof to the end wall 22 and to the opposite end wall 29 of the container. At its opposite ends, the slide member 26 is provided with upturned ears 3i and 32, which are internally threaded and receive the threads of an operating rod 33 which projects through the wall 29, an operating knob 34 being fixed on the projecting end of the screw so that the latter may be turned from the exterior of the container and provide rectilinear movement of the slide member 26 in one direction or the other. A bearing block 35 fixed to end wall 2% rotatably supports the screw. As will be apparent from Fig, 4, by sliding the member 25 to the right the inclination of the links 25 will be changed, and the plate I9 lowered until it is in its lowermost position immediately above the screw 33, thus positioning the plate I9 toreceive a full pad. And by moving the slide member 26 towards the left, the plate I9 may be raised until the links 25 are substantially vertical.

The plate I9 is provided with means so that the stub end of the pad may be fastened securely in place thereon. As shown, two screws 36 are fixed to the plate the heads 31 of the screws being welded or otherwise secured to the plate. These screws are spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the positioning holes I6 of the pad. The pad is carried by the plate with the top of the stub portion arranged below a rigid metal strap 38 which is clamped down on the stub portion by means of nuts 39 engaging the upper ends of the screws.

The stub portion of the pad is covered by a channel shaped cap 40 hingedly connected by a pivot pin 4! to the end Wall 22 of the container. The sides I! of the container preferably reach up to the level of the top of the pad and are provided with upward extensions 42 which fit inside of the channel shaped cap 40. The latter maybe swung rearwardly and expose the top of the stub portion to permit removal and replacement of a pad.

Adjacent the free edges of the sheets of the pad the container is provided with a top wall 44 which is arranged substantially at the same level as the top of the pad, the pad being raised from time to time by operating the knob 34 so that the top sheet is kept approximately flush with this hand-supporting area as the pad is consumed. This top wall 44, as shown, comprises a stationary portion extending towards the pad from the end wall 29. Connected to the stationary portion is a movable extension that normally overlies the edge of the pad and which is adapted to be moved away from the pad so as to expose the edge of the sheets and permit the upper sheet or sheets to be pulled upwardly and separated from the stub portions. This extension portion, which rests at its opposite sides on the top edge of the side plates IT, preferably comprises a flat plate member 45 hinged at 46 to the stationary top wall portion and flush therewith. Slidably carried by the plate member 45 is an extension plate 41 which normally projects out over the top of the pad some little distance to hold the free edges of the sheets down. This extension plate, which slides in guides 48 in the member 45, is normally pushed outwardly by a spring 49, but it may be retracted by pressing it with the finger towards the right as shown in Figs, 1 and 4 to expose the edges of the sheets and permit the upper sheet or sheets to be raised. This enables the carbon, or transfer paper to be placed below a top fresh sheet, or if two sheets of carbon paper are used, below the first and second sheets. With the carbon paper properly positioned the extension plate 41 is released and the spring 49 pushes it out over the edge of the pad into the position shown in Fig. 1. The covering end of the extension plate 41 is preferably inclined laterally as shown in Fig. 1 and is cut back at the center portion so that the a center of the pad may be held down by the finger before releasing the plate 41 from its retracted position.

The carbon or transfer sheet or sheets may be separate strips of a size substantially corresponding to the length and width of the tear-off portions of the pad sheets. However to provide a convenient constant supply of carbon paper, either one strip or two or more strips at a time as may be desired, a roll of carbon paper 50 may be supported below the plate member 45 so that one or more carbon strips 5 I may be fed over the top of the guide wall 23 and after the projecting portions of the carbon strips have been used a number of times they may be pulled out and the used parts torn on. Access is readily provided for replacement of the carbon strip roll since the plate 45 can be swung upwardly about its hinge 46. Suitable spring means 52 is preferably employed to hold the plate 45 in its lowered position.

As will now be apparent, the used sheets may be readily torn off from the stub portions, the stub end of the pad being secured'tothe holder sothat when one or more of the pull-oi? portions of the sheets are separated the pad will notbe pulled up or separated from the holder. A the I height of the pad decreases, and as soon :as the user finds that the top sheet is somewhat below .the level of the extension plate 41, he adjusts space in the channel of the cap member 40 to accommodate the entire height of the stub end of the pad, even though the pad may be of considerable thickness. By swinging the cap portion 40 rearwardly on its hingesupport, the stub part of the pad may be readily separated, after the sheets have all been used and pulled off, by unscrewing the nuts 39 and removing the plate 38 and then pulling the stub end upwardly. Plate I9 is then lowered and a fesh pad is then inserted and secured to the plate l9.

It will be apparent that since the cap member conceals the stub end of the pad, with the extension plate 4'! concealing the opposite end of the pad, it is not necessary to have the pad ends at the top and bottom of the pad trimmed off at right angles to the plane of the sheets. In fact that would be undersira-ble if the perforation lines of successive sheets are arranged to slightly overlap those in a following sheet as above described. Each tear-off portion of a sheet should have the same length as all the others, and all the tear-off portions should have the same relative spacing between the perforation line and the printed lines on which the handwriting is to be applied.

After the sheets of. the pad are written upon the original may be handed to the customer, and the carbon copy or copies may be retained and stored in the chamber 56 provided between the straps 2? and the bottom wall l8. One end of the chamber is defined by partition wall 3'! While the other end of the chamber is normally closed by a hinged door 53 yieldingly held closed in the position shown in Fig. 4 by a suitable spring 59. As shown, the chamber is of somewhat greater height adjacent the end of the holder in which the stub end of the pad is located, the bottom plate l8 having a slight inclination with respect to the straps 21 and plate i9 so that the top of the holder and the top of the pad will be at a slight angle to the horizontal.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top Wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, and means accessible from the exterior of said container and operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

2. A portable holder for a pad of printed forms comprising a pad-supporting plate having attaching screws operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the. upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, and means operable to raise the plateto position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

3. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, and means operable to maintain the upper sheet of the pad and said hand-supporting area substantially flush with one another as the pad is consumed.

l. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said top wall having an extension movably carried thereby and normally overlying the edge of. a pad and adapted for movement away from the pad edge to expose the edge of the sheets.

5. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said container also having a hinged cap portion adapted for normal positioning over the end of a'pad when fastened to the pad-supporting plate and movable to expose said end, and means accessible from the exterior ofv said container and operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

6. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein and having a chamber below said plate for receiving sheets that have been separated from said pad, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, and means operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

7. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement therein and having a bottom wall spaced below said plate and opposed side walls extending along the sides of the pad, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, an adjusting knob at the end of the container on which said top wall is provided, and means operated by said knob to adjust the position of the plate for positioning for substantially vertical movement therein, said container at its upper portion having an open- :ing adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, means for supporting a roll of carbon paper in said container adjacent an end of the pad, said top wall having an extension movably carried thereby over the carbon roll location and normally overlying the edge of the pad, and means accessible from the exterior of said container and operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

9. A portable holder for a pad of connected sheets comprising a pad-supporting plate having means operable to fasten one end of a pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate for substantially vertical movement and having side walls extending upwardly above said plate, said container at its upper portion having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said top wall having an extension sli-dably carried thereby and normally overlying the edge of the pad and adapted for sliding movement t container supporting said plate for substantially ,1

vertical movement therein, said container having a portion adapted to overlie the fastened end of a pad and having an opening adapted to expose the upper sheet of a pad and having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said top wall having a stationary portion and a hinged extension portion pivotally connected thereto and adapted to normally overlie the edge of the pad, and means accessible from the exterior of said container and operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad approximately flush with said hand-supporting area.

11. In combination a pad of paper forms having stub portions connected by perforation lines to tear-01f portions, means extending perpendicularly through the stub portions and binding the same together, and a portable holder for the pad comprising a pad-supporting plate having attaching screws engageable with the stub portion of the pad to fasten the pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate and pad for substantially vertical movement therein and at its upper portion having an opening exposing the upper sheet of the pad, said container having a cap member concealing the stub portions of the pad and of a height and width so coordinated with the thickness and width of the stub portion of the pad as to receive such stub portion, said container also having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said top wall having an extension overlying the free ends of the sheets of the pad,

and means operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad immediately below the extension of said top wall.

12. In combination a pad of paper forms having stub portions connected by perforation lines to tear-01f portions, means extending perpendicularly through the stub portions and binding the same together, the sheet ends at opposite ends of the pad being arranged in planes extending at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the sheet, and the plane containing the perforation lines of all the sheets being arranged at a similar angle, and a portable holder for the pad comprising a pad-supporting plate having attaching means engageable with the stub portion of the pad to fasten the pad in place thereon, a container supporting said plate and pad for substantially vertical movement therein and at its upper portion having an opening exposing the upper sheet of the pad, .said container having a cap member concealing the stub portions of the pad and of a height and width so coordinated with the thickness and width of the stub portion of the pad as to receive such stub portion, said container also having a top wall providing an area for supporting a persons hand while using the pad, said top Wall having an extension overlying the free ends of the sheets of the .pad, and means operable to raise the plate to position the upper sheet of the pad immediately below the extension of said top wall.

NELS H, NELSON. 

